Sonawah smiled as he explained to Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington that he had taken the phone. However, he became serious when the sentence was passed.

Sonawah, 18, of Barrackpore stood in the prisoner’s dock of the San Fernando First Court as the charge was read to him that, at Rookmineah Trace, Lower Barrackpore, he stole an iPhone valued $3,500 from his cousin’s house.

Police prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said that at around 4 a.m. last Wednesday, the victim placed the black phone on his bed and fell asleep.

Around 11 p.m. he checked for the item but realised it was missing.

He made a report to Barrackpore Police Station on Monday.

Constable Arnold Ramroop investigated and around 3.20 p.m. he went to Barrackpore where he met Sonawah and told him of the report that had been made.

Sonawah replied, “Officer, I really take the phone and sell it the same day to a Jamaican.”

A Samsung cellular phone found in Sonawah’s pants pocket contained the SIM card from his cousin’s phone.

Sonawah told the court he sold the phone for $700.

“I’m very ashamed I did that,” he said.

He admitted to the court that he went out with his cousin and then took his phone.

The electronic device was not recovered by the police.

“You took the man’s phone and sold it for next to nothing,” Wellington said as he sentenced Sonawah to nine months in jail.